Known as the Battle of Rennel Island during the Guadalcanal Campaign, the last major naval engagement between the United States Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy engaged between the 29^th/30^th January 1943. The battle was fought in the straights between Rennel Island and Guadalcanal. American intelligence viewed the Operation Ke activity in the region as a ploy to draw the Japanese navy into a battle, allowing replacement Japanese troops to land on Guadalcanal. To combat this, on the 29^th January 1943, Admiral William Halsey Jr., the Allied theatre commander sent five task forces toward the Guadalcanal region. The task forces, consisting of U.S. warships who were protecting convoys of Allied transport ships carrying replacement troops for Guadalcanal. The total number of warships in the five task forces consisted of two fleet carriers, two escort carriers, three battleships, 12 cruisers and 25 destroyers. Task Group 62.8, consisting of four transport vessels and four destroyers were destined to land U.S. Marines on Guadalcanal. Ahead of Task Group 62.8 was the close support group of three heavy cruisers, three light cruisers, two escort carriers and eight destroyers. The support group was Task Force 18 (TF18) and commanded by Rear Admiral Robert Giffen who was stationed on board the heavy cruiser USS Wichita. On the 29^th January 1943, failing to meet up with four destroyers who were to sweep “The Slot” north of Guadalcanal, Giffen proceeded with TF18, leaving TF18’s slower moving two escort carriers and two destroyers behind. Allied intelligence indicated Japanese submarines were likely to be in the area. Therefore Giffen, not expecting an air attack, arranged his cruisers and destroyers for anti-submarine defence. Giffen’s TF18 was being tracked by Japanese submarines who reported its location and directional movement. 32 Japanese bombers, each carrying a torpedo, took off from Rabaul airbase on East New Britain Island to attack TF18. Whilst steaming northwest at sunset several of TF18’s ships detected unidentified aircraft on radar. Giffen had ordered for radio silence therefore there was not any response to the radar activity. The air cover for TF18 had withdrawn to the carriers as it was sunset. The radar contact was the Japanese bombers, half of which launched their torpedoes at TF18. One Japanese bomber was shot down by anti-aircraft fire from Giffen’s ships and all the remaining torpedoes missed their targets. Unaware further bombers were on their way to attack TF18, Giffen ordered his cruisers to sail the same course and speed as before the attack. Thinking the attack was over, the zig-zag pattern for advancing was suspended for the night. In the meantime, a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft dropped flares and float lights to illuminate the cruisers. At 19:38 (7:38 pm) the second Japanese bomber formation Attacked TF18. Heavy cruiser USS Chicago was struck by two torpedoes bringing her to an instant stop. Heavy cruiser USS Wichita was also hit by a torpedo which did not explode. During the attack two bombers were shot down by anti-aircraft fire. Giffen ordered his ships to slow down, reverse direction and cease firing the anti-aircraft guns. The remaining Japanese aircraft departed the area as the absence of muzzle flashes in the dark concealed the U.S. ships. Under cover of darkness heavy cruiser USS Louisville was able to tow the crippled Chicago away from the battle area.

On the 30^th January 1943, in an effort to protect Chicago, Halsey notified the escort carriers to ensure there were combat air patrols (CAP) in position at first light. In addition he ordered fleet tug Navajo to release Louisville from towing Chicago which was completed by 08:00. Numerous Japanese scout aircraft observed the position of Chicago when they approached TF18 between daybreak and 14.00. Although chased away by the CAP they reported Chicago’s position to their naval commander. Leaving their airbase at Kavieng on Papua New Guinea at 12:15, eleven Japanese torpedo bombers headed to attack Chicago. The U.S. naval forces were forewarned by Australian coast watchers based in the Solomon Islands who estimated their arrival to be at 16:00. At 15:00, Halsey ordered for six destroyers to protect Chicago and Navajo while the remaining cruisers were to head for Efate in the New Hebrides. Sailing 43 miles behind crippled Chicago was fleet carrier USS Enterprise who had ten of her fighters forming a CAP for the damaged cruiser. At 15:40 four of the CAP fighters located, chased and shot down an advanced Japanese bomber. Enterprise’s radar detected the remaining incoming bombers and at 15:54 launched ten more fighters to oppose the Japanese bombers. Six CAP fighters began to engage with the bombers as it seemed Enterprise was the target. However, the Japanese bombers turned toward Chicago after six CAP fighters engaged with them. When the bombers entered the anti-aircraft fire from the destroyers protecting Chicago, eight were shot down. Two before they released their tornadoes and six after their tornadoes were dropped. Four of the torpedoes struck Chicago, which began to sink. Captain Ralph O. Davis ordered the ship to be abandoned before she sank stern first twenty minutes later. 62 members of her crew died in the attack but 1049 survivors were rescued by Navajo and the escorting destroyers. In the meantime one torpedo hit destroyer USS La Vallette killing 22 members of her crew. The remaining bombers returned to their base after failing to locate any further U.S. ships. La Vallette was towed back to Espiritu Santo by Navajo without any further incident together with the remaining ships of TF18.

Giffen was blamed for the defeat by Admiral Halsey whose comments were included on his official performance report. The resulting recriminations for the defeat did not affect Giffen’s career because he continued to lead Allied task forces in the Pacific and in 1944 was promoted to Vice-Admiral.

Technically the Japanese won the Battle of the Rennel Islands as they successfully forced the U.S. Navy to withdraw. In doing so they ensured Operation Ke, the evacuation of Japanese troops from Guadalcanal, was completed successfully. The Allies did not realise the evacuation was happening until it was all over. Of the 43 Japanese bombers involved, 12 were destroyed and 60-84 Japanese killed. The U.S. Navy lost cruiser USS Chicago sunk, La Vallette badly damaged and 85 personnel killed.

—————————————————